How to choose summer tires What summer tires to choose for your car

Summer tires are an important part of the vehicle chassis. It should provide maximum comfort and silence, minimum fuel consumption and good handling. Which tires have these parameters “excellent” and which one is better to choose? We have collected popular models that were released earlier and have already managed to prove themselves well.

What are “summer tires” and what are they?

A summer tire is intended for operation in the warm season, with an average daily temperature above +7°С (that is, it is higher than approximately +10 during the day and +5 at night).

It is important to note that during the hottest summer months, the air temperature in some places reaches +30-40°C, and the asphalt temperature can rise to +50-60°C.

In such conditions, you can conventionally put plastic hoops on the car’s wheels, and they will still “stick” well to the hot road.

Accordingly, the issue of improving the grip of an ordinary, non-sports summer tire with the road surface is far from the first place. And what then on the first?

Reduction of rolling resistance, which affects the ease of tire rolling and fuel consumption. The lower the rolling resistance, the lower the fuel consumption.

At the beginning of work on such tires, they tried to reduce rolling resistance with a harder rubber composition and a simple tread pattern.

But this led to the deterioration of other important characteristics: braking distance, controllability, noise.

However, modern “eco-tyres” are practically in no way inferior to their ordinary counterparts, and for a good premium tire to have increased rolling resistance is already considered somewhat obscene.

Such tires are easy to recognize by their name, which contains words that hint at ecology, economy and frugality: Michelin Energy Saver, Nokian Hakka Green, Fulda EcoControl, Hankook Kinergy Eco, Goodyear EfficientGrip, etc.

Another important point is the volume of the tires. Tire rolling noise, or rather its absence, is an important element of comfort on a long journey.

Therefore, tire designers began to pay more and more attention to this parameter, which led to the appearance of special tire models, in the name of which the dB parameter is indicated – from “decibel”, the measurement of sound volume.

By the way, you can use a similar approach when choosing sports tires: look for a keyword in the name of the tire.

For example, if economical tires at Continental are called EcoContact, then sports ones are called SportContact, Fulda has just EcoControl tires, and there is also EcoControl HP.

Michelin offers a line of sports tires under the general brand Pilot Sport, and the Goodyear firm has collected its dynamic models in the Eagle F1 series. And there are Vredestein Sportrac, Pirelli PZero series, Fulda SportControl, etc.

Finally, summer is not only hot days. There are thunderstorms in May and torrential rains at the beginning of autumn. Therefore, one of the main requirements for a summer tire is resistance to aquaplaning.

Resistance to aquaplaning is the ability to effectively and quickly remove water from the contact point of the tread with the road. As a result, even in a downpour, a good tire can “reject” all the liquid and drive almost as if it were dry.

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A similar effect can be achieved thanks to a directional protector that resembles an arrow or a Christmas tree. Goodyear Eagle were one of the first directional tires of their time, which today have been reborn into a whole family.

By the way, about the protector. There is a non-directional symmetrical type of tread – the simplest, where all the tread blocks are similar to each other, and a directional asymmetrical tread – this is the most complex type, where one half resembles an arrow, and the other consists of large blocks.

Why? During intense heat, the tire should not spread, its tread should not melt on hot asphalt.

Therefore, summer tires often have a simple tread pattern consisting of large blocks, without small slits-lamellas, as in winter tires.

The asymmetric tire combines a directional pattern to combat water and large blocks for confident movement on hot asphalt.

Popular inexpensive summer tires

1.Barum Bravuris 5 HM – the most versatile summer tires, provide good comfort and controllability, quick drainage of water when driving on a wet road.

And also an increased service life: it is not for nothing that the model has the prefix NM in the name (High Milage).

According to the manufacturer, Barum Braviris 5 HM provide a 15% increase in mileage compared to the previous Braviris 3 HM tires.

All this was achieved with the help of a modern asymmetric pattern of the tread, as well as special blocks with slotted lamellas that are locked.

They “lock” in a turn for increased rigidity and “open” on a flat surface for better grip.

By the way, the Czech company Barum today works as part of the Continental group, one of the world leaders in tire production.

2.Debica Passio 2 – summer tires, created with an emphasis on comfort and economy.

This model is the follower of the successful and well-known Debica Passio in our country: previously, this tire was included in the basic configuration of Daewoo Lanos and was distinguished by a very long service life.

In the new Passio 2 model:

• three main longitudinal and many auxiliary side grooves for water drainage;
• large central rib for stable rectilinear movement;
• developed side blocks for good traction in turns.

Debica Passio 2 summer tires are a good choice for most compact cars driven by calm drivers.

The price is one of the most profitable on the market, it can compete with Ukrainian tires.

3.Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 K435 are summer tires from a well-known Korean manufacturer. They have good quality, affordable price, comfort while driving and low fuel consumption.

The asymmetric tread pattern and wide longitudinal grooves guarantee good water drainage when driving on wet roads.

And the large side checkers-blocks of the tread will provide reliable support in the turn during fast movement on dry roads.

The result is universal tires for many cars.

4.Matador MP 47 Hectorra 3 summer tires are designed for large DEF car classes and crossovers.

They have an asymmetric tread pattern and their own features:

• hard central blocks – better controllability and braking;
• many oblique and wide longitudinal grooves – effective drainage of water;
• closed outer ring – minimum noise.

Special emphasis is placed on reducing tire wear, which is facilitated by the uniform distribution of pressure in the contact zone. There is a TWI indicator (3 mm mark) to monitor wear.

As a result, the Matador MP-47 Hectorra 3 summer tire has become better than its predecessor Matador MP-46 Hectorra 2 in literally everything (manufacturer data):

• service life (mileage) – improved by 7%;
• rolling resistance and fuel consumption reduction – improved by 4%;
• braking and handling on dry/wet asphalt – improved by 1-2%.

Popular mid-range summer tires

1.Fulda EcoControl HP 2 summer tires are the traditionally high quality of the German brand at a very reasonable mid-range price.

Asymmetric tread pattern, wide longitudinal and oblique grooves for water drainage, carefully selected rubber compound – these are the secrets of the universal nature of this model.

They provide comfort, reliable grip on dry roads and confidence when driving in the rain.

2.Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance summer tires, as the name suggests, are designed to provide maximum values ​​of all parameters.

They shorten the braking distance thanks to ActiveBraking technology, give good traction on wet roads (level “A”) and reduce fuel consumption thanks to reduced rolling resistance (-18% compared to Goodyear EfficientGrip).

As a result, the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance summer tire is the maximalist in the “EfficientGrip” line, which includes the Goodyear EfficientGrip main tire (middle class cars), the Goodyear EfficientGrip Compact model (compact class cars), and the tire described above.

By the way: the updated Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 model was recently released, as well as the version for Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV crossovers.

3.The summer tire Michelin Energy XM2 and its updated version XM2+, in which the composition of the rubber has changed slightly, provides several advantages at once: increased strength, increased service life (+20%), improved fuel economy.

Yes, it was possible to increase strength thanks to Michelin Ironflex technology (special high-strength threads of the frame) – an extremely useful innovation on our roads.

Traditionally for the company, these tires have very low rolling resistance, which helps to reduce fuel consumption.

4.The Nokian Nordman SX2 light summer tire continues the Nordman SX line, also designed for compact and medium-sized cars, but now has received a number of improvements.

The model is made with grooves of the Silent Groove type, where the inner surface of the groove has a depression, like a golf ball. This helps drive quietly and improves tire cooling.

In addition, the Nordman SX2 received Venturi Grooves, which improve water drainage when driving on a wet road.

As a result, the new product offers comfortable movement on dry asphalt and confident behavior on wet roads – a choice for calm buyers who value reliability and durability.

Popular premium summer tires

1.Continental PremiumContact 6 summer tires are designed for medium and large cars, whose owners want a balanced driving style.

The Continental PremiumContact 6 tire is the successor to the popular ContiPremiumContact 5 model, which for many years was one of the leaders in its class, even against the background of other well-known tires.

It provides shorter braking distances and longer service life thanks to the Safety Silica rubber compound (with the addition of silica).

Special lateral macroblocks contribute to better cornering stability, and the optimized medium stiffness of the tread ensures reduced tire wear and improved comfort while driving.

The asymmetric pattern of the tread has large grooves for quick water drainage – the key to safe driving in the rain.

2.Michelin Primacy 4 summer tires are visually similar to their predecessor: asymmetric tread pattern, longitudinal and oblique grooves for water drainage.

The manufacturer claims maximum focus on comfort and improved grip on dry/wet roads. The latter was achieved thanks to the use of 2 types of grooves with different hook edges.

In addition, the model has a longer service life: the tread is cut so that when the top layer is worn, the next one is included in the work, but the general behavior of the tire does not deteriorate.

Tests by the German AvtoZMI showed that compared to competitors of a comparable class, Michelin Primacy 4 tires really provide a reduction in braking distance: by 1 m, if we are talking about new tires, and even by 3 m, if we are talking about worn ones.

And Michelin Primacy 4 summer tires have a low noise level. In conclusion: as promised by the manufacturer – comfortable and reliable tires of European quality, one of the best in their class.

3.Nokian Hakka Blue 2 summer tires are designed for mid-range cars and are designed with an emphasis on driving on wet roads.

The model is built according to the concept of Dry Touch, the basis of which is slanted drainage lamellas in the central blocks of the tread.

Plus the special Hakka Blue Hybrid rubber compound – oil is added here, which improves the tire’s grip on the wet road and reduces intermolecular friction, which allows you to reduce fuel consumption.

In addition, the Nokian Hakka Blue 2 tire received the company’s signature developments: Silent Groove grooves with a surface in the form of a golf ball – to reduce noise and better tire cooling; and the Silent Sidewall side belt – to reduce vibrations and noise from the road.

As a result, comfortable high-class universal tires that are not afraid of rain.

Tips

A set of new tires costs a lot, but there are a few simple rules for taking care of your tires that will help them last longer.

1. In the summer, tires intensively “dry out”, later the tread and/or sidewalls begin to crack. As a result, after 3-4 years, microcracks on the surface of the tire can lead to permanent air etching.

To avoid this, we recommend using special polishes. They usually contain silicone, which fills microcracks and “glues” them.

Also, the tire receives a “noble shine”, which effectively reflects part of the sunlight, and does not allow it to dry out the tire.

2. Carefully monitor the pressure and measure it only on cold tires in the shade. Often due to strong heating from sunlight or a hot road, the pressure rises to 0.3-0.5 atm.

3. Do not forget to monitor the tread height. The maximum minimum tread height of a summer tire is 1.6-2 mm. Otherwise, the depth of the grooves will simply not be sufficient for effective water drainage.

We hope that our material will help you choose summer tires, and we wish you successful purchases from Hotline!

Author: Roman Melnychenko